5. Will the Counsel General provide an update on schemes that are nearing completion and are currently in receipt of EU structural funds? OAQ53617

The delivery period for projects funded through the current EU structural funds programmes ends, as you know, in 2023, so we are around the halfway point in delivering the programmes. As a result, the majority of projects are still under way.

There is quite some concern about the future of an innovative project, the Ffarm Moelyci project, in my constituency. The Cwm Harry trust are almost two years into a three-year project, which is led by a German university, as part of the INTERREG programme, which includes 11 partners in five European nations. The project has ordered a large biomass processor and is about to spend tens of thousands of pounds in the local economy. As you have said, there was a pledge that projects that have been approved would receive funds should Brexit happen. But Cwm Harry tell me that the whole project in Moelyci is under a cloud because they have been given to understand that those assurances are no longer in place. So, can you give us some clarity about the situation? Are there other projects under threat, and what can you as a Government do to assist?

Thank you for that further question. I know that the Member has written to me regarding that specific question. Officials are looking into the detail of that situation, and I will write back to you shortly about that specifically.

But, in more general terms, in the context of leaving without a deal, the UK Government has offered a guarantee in terms of funding projects that have been confirmed before the end of next year. Therefore, there's an opportunity to spend beyond that towards 2023. So, in principle, if we left without a deal or with an agreement, there shouldn’t be any change within the current arrangements for those who already receive funding within the period of the programmes that have already been approved.

Discussions are happening at the moment between this Government, between the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd, and the UK Government regarding the detail of how that guarantee works. On a practical level, one of the things that we are trying to ensure is that the same flexibility relates to this commitment over a period of years as is relevant now. But, in terms of what the Member is requesting specifically, I'm happy to answer the question she has already sent me.

Minister, I'm sure that you'll be aware that projects in Pembrokeshire that have been in receipt of European funding are very varied, ranging from tackling unemployment among young people and supporting specialist innovation in small businesses, to infrastructure projects and expanding the tourism industry. It's important that any follow-up funding programmes do allow communities to play a full part in spending decisions. Can the Minister confirm that any new proposals will ensure that funding is targeted at specific areas, or does the Welsh Government have a particular strategy in view to refocus on other aspects of public policy?

Thanks to the Member for that question and the acknowledgement that communities across Wales have taken advantage of European funding during our time as Members. The contribution made by these funds to our economy and our society and sectors across Wales has been very important. In terms of what's going to happen in the future, there is a question at the moment regarding the decisions an commitment of the Westminster Government on this. We, as the Member will know, are pressing for a specific commitment that decisions on these sorts of issues will still be taken by a Welsh Government, and that there will no less funding available for that. Despite pressing for that for a while, at every opportunity that we have, those two commitments haven't been given clearly, so that question is still one that we are pushing for.

However, the question of regional support is slightly broader than that—the shared prosperity fund is the name given to it by the Government in Westminster. There are a number of other sources, and the question of what will be a follow-up is still being considered. The Government has established a steering committee under the chairmanship of Huw Irranca-Davies, and that looks at delivery mechanisms for the future—exactly the same sort of question the Member is asking: how can we deliver at a grass-roots level in a different way in the future? Perhaps he also knows that the Government has commissioned a project from the OECD that is looking at how this is happening in other countries and learning from international best practice so that we have evidence, within the structure, for schemes in the future. Part of that work will report this year and another part next year.